Rim Road Scenic Drive

Rim Road Scenic Drive
Torrey which includes desert views, tranquil scenes and landscape views
Rim Road Scenic Drive
Rim Road Scenic Drive
Capitol Reef National Park featuring tranquil scenes, desert views and a gorge or canyon


A range of overlooks and scenic points line a route that zigzags through the hoodoos and ponderosa trees of the park.

Visit Rim Road Scenic Drive, the route that meanders between the boulders and dramatic rock formations of Bryce Canyon National Park. It twists and turns for 19 miles (30 kilometers), providing picturesque vistas of the gorge and its impressive walls of rock. Park at some of the many overlooks and appreciate the absolute serenity above the canyon.

Bring drinks and snacks and stop for a picnic at an observation area. If you have binoculars, zoom in on some of the impressive rock formations rising up from the gorge. Bring a camera to Sunset Point or Sunrise Point, arriving early or late for their namesake events. Sunsets turn the entire valley red, creating awe-inspiring vistas and photo opportunities. Note that the road reaches a height of 9,100 feet (2,800 meters), offering views stretching miles into the distance.

Pull off the road for other major stops along this route, including Inspiration Point, Bryce Point and Fairyland Point. You’ll be able to see countless hoodoos, like an army of narrow spikes rising from the valley floor.

Hike down a nature trail for a closer look at some of the hoodoos. Take on the moderate trail of Bristlecone Loop, which is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). Enjoy the views of the giant trees from Ponderosa Canyon’s overlook and spot condors soaring from the Agua Canyon stop.

The route is also known as the Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Drive. It is open year round and requires paying the park’s entrance fee for access.

The Rim Road Scenic Drive runs through the heart of Bryce Canyon National Park, on the southern side of Utah. From Las Vegas, travel northeast for 260 miles (420 kilometers) to get to the park’s northern entrance in about 5 hours by car.

Stop at some of the other scenic locations on the way, such as the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and Zion National Park.

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